Northern California Costco Brisket

[JefRowCheckMat]

I've literally called every butcher in my area within 30 miles and the cheapest I could find was around 6# for choice. I went to Costco for a sale (I never go) and thought I'd check out their low n slow cuts for the heck of it. My jaw dropped, my mouth watered and I may have passed out for a nano second when I saw 3.19# for FREAKIN PRIME!!!! My excitement was soon cut short by my neurotic thinking "Why is it so cheap? What's wrong with it?". So, my question is why is it so cheap? Haha! Do any NorCal locals prefer Costco prime brisket over butcher prime? Not that I think something is wrong with it but there has to be some reason. Seems to good to be true :/ Excited and grateful none the less. I bought one to try. 45 bucks for prime! Wow. I've only smoked choice. I'm gonna see how many I can fit on my ys640! thanks all!

[HorseDoctor]

Volume allows them to sell at that price. Plus you'll lose a little with trimming that you might not if your "butcher brisket" was trimmed. All in all, Costco, Sam's etc. are usually a good deal on cryopacked meats. Enjoy!

[RonB]

That price is a rip off. Most Costcos except on the East Coast seem to sell Prime packers for $2.99 or lower. I'm still working on my Costco getting some prime packers.

[Breadhead]

I agree... $3.19 for Prime Brisket at Costco is a higher price than in southern California stores. Ask the meat manager why he's jacking the price up...🤑

[ecowper]

My local Costco sells Prime brisket for $2.99-$3.29/lb. If I drive another 15 miles down the road, that much bigger Costco sells them for $2.79-$2.99/lb. But the extra 45 minute round trip and the pain in the arse of that much bigger Costco has never been worth the $2.00, or so, that I would save.

[EdF]

First World Problems!

- East Coaster

[JefRowCheckMat]

O feel like this Costco discovery changed my life!

[Breadhead]

Trust me it will. You will save so much money on every purchase you will soon be out of money!!!

[EdF]

"We'll lose money on every unit, but we'll make it up in volume"!

[ecowper]

Costco buys ribs, briskets, pork belly, pork shoulders, etc in very large quantities. They go directly to the vendors (Swift, Armour, etc) and bring their massive buying power to bear to get top quality, packed exactly how they want it. And they put the onus of doing it the "Costco Way" on the vendor. Not only is there nothing wrong with those briskets, they are better quality than what you will get if you bought a prime brisket in cryovac at any other big grocery store chain. In fact, when buying steaks and rib roasts at Costco, I never any worry about it and just buy the Choice cuts. They are as good as the lower end Prime stuff you are gonna get at Safeway.

[JefRowCheckMat]

Wow. Sounds great! Do you think their prime meat in general are worth it?

[Breadhead]

Prime meat at discount pricing is a no brainer! Buy 1 Prime Brisket and smoke it low and slow. You will never buy another Choice flat in your lifetime.👍

[Reds Fan 5]

JefRowCheckMat Costco's prime steaks are outstanding. I haven't purchased a brisket there yet but their cryovac ribs are excellent as well. We buy all of our ground beef there, too.

[sblair1255]

Their prime meat is great and worth every penny. Sure you will probably trim 3-4 pounds off a 16-18lb packer but the end result is worth it. I like to reach in and trim a lot of the fat between the flat and point where that thick hard fat is. When done it lays more even and internal temps between the flat and point stay very close.

[mayapoppa]

What in the holy what what?!! Brisket in my area (SF Bay Area) costs $9.99/lb for Choice! And my Costco stopped carrying it. My butcher sells it for 5.99, so that is where I go, but it is still high compared to what you guys are saying, and it is still Choice.

[ecowper]

I bet you can find a Costco within a reasonable driving distance that sells Prime packers

[swong13]

Don't know where in the Bay Area you are, Mayapoppa, but the Costco at the Almaden exit off of Hwy 85 sells Prime brisket packers for $2.99/lb. If you are a sportsman, there is also a Bass Pro Shops across the freeway. Might be worth a trip.

[Brewmaster]

look up Cash & Carry for a location near you, there meat is IBP and excellent.

[Brewmaster]

Just got back from Cash & Carry and their whole packers Choice Angus IBP were $2.46 a pound

[Breadhead]

That's a great price for Choice grade brisket! If I had the choice of that or Prime grade brisket at $2.99 per pound? I'm going with the Prime grade everytime!

[JefRowCheckMat]

I've heard of cash and carry. There's one right here in town.

[JefRowCheckMat]

Breadhead that comment about saving so much money you'll be broke made me literally lol!

[Breadhead]

Laughter is as important as good food...👍

[JefRowCheckMat]

Thanks for the replies everyone! After this discovery I have a better overall outlook on life. I feel very relaxed and zen. Maybe I'll be more bearable? Haha

[tbob4]

I'm in Chico - $2.99 a pound. I cannot get prime anywhere in town so I can't compare Costco's prime to anyone else's. I was paying WAY to much for brisket before Costco started carrying them. So much so that I gave up on getting it. Why pay $8lb for Choice or Select brisket elsewhere when you could get Prime tri-tip for $4-$5 a pound at Costco? Now that Costco is carrying them here I am in beef heaven.

[Breadhead]

Costco is a BBQ'ers nirvana... when we die the meat supply display in heaven will be an exact duplicate of Costco's USDA Prime grade beef display. The Cowboy Ribeyes will be 2" thick and the bones will be pearly white. The wine display is right next to the meat department too.😜

[tbob4]

Breadhead - The only conflict will be that there will be a section with BBQ's - every make and model you could imagine - and a sign that says PICK 1 AND ONLY 1. IT MUST LAST YOUR ENTIRE STAY. That's the "test". Anyone caught arguing or taking 2 will be sent to a Brinkman warehouse.

[Breadhead]

If that were the case I would pick the new 42" Komodo Kamado. With that cooker I could cooker everything the good lord ever created to be cooked.🤗 I could be the bread and pizza angle.🍕

[JefRowCheckMat]

Life is good...

[kmhfive]

I'm in the sticks in N. Illinois. Sometimes our local Wally-World will have Choice packers at $2.89-3.29/#. Lately they haven't had any. Went to a Sams about 45-min away and they had nothing either. Wish there was a Costco…

[JefRowCheckMat]

That's a bummer.